Here is a further selection of articles in PDF format. Please download as many as you wish.Retirement: Write On! by Bruce HarrisMany older people, and perhaps especially the retired, consider themselves 'out of touch' and find the idea that anyone might be interested in whatever fiction they might attempt as probably a little far-fetched. This assumption can sometimes be in spite of the fact that they have lived long and varied lives and may well have done and seen much more than many younger people have. (10/14)How to Succeed with Travel Writing Competitions! by Dr Steve HansonOur Inaugural Travel Writing Competition last year received about 200 entries for a prize of a £100 Currency Card. Out of all those entries, how did the judging panel, of which I was member, decide on one winner and ten runners-up? Well, if you decide to enter a travel writing competition, the following ten tips should help…(02/15)How Top Selling Authors Have Successfully Sold Their Ebooks by Tanisha WilliamProducing best seller books can be a tough task for any author. Marketing an eBook is what separates the successful authors from those who stayed at the bottom of the sales charts. To generate the most sales, there are specific things authors should do to ensure they are reaching potential consumers. (04/15)Being your own Publisher by Dr. Jacqueline JeynesFed up with hassles and restrictions when dealing with a publisher for your books? Me too, so I decided to do it myself. Five years ago, I would not have considered it - too difficult to reach group buyers, too much marketing effort needed - but now, your side of the bargain seems to be expanding while theirs shrinks and you are expected to do all this anyway. (06/15)Why Writers Should Make Friends with the Taxman by Natalie ButlinYou've always known you want to be a writer, and now you've got it: the multi-million pound idea, film deal in the waiting, bouncers on the doors at W H Smiths. Why waste your breath at work when you're sitting on a golden egg? It's time to tell your boss a few home truths and get on the phone to Selina Walker… Except most writers only just scrape by. (07/15)Writing Short Stories for Magazines by Chris SuttonWriting stories for magazines is great fun. You create the characters, decide what happens to them and how their problems will be resolved. Nothing could be simpler. Except that it's not quite that easy. (08/15)Improving Your Writing Skills - 7 Ways to Benefit From Online Writing Blogs by Joseph Maina KabuiIn a rapidly expanding digital communication space, blogging is indispensable, not only for blog owners but also for their followers. For freelance writers, there are many established and emerging blogs that provide a plethora of tools and practical ideas on how to improve writing skills. But there is a catch! Unless you are selective and wise, you may end more confused than enlightened after keenly following a range of blogs. (09/15)Do You Have a Burning Desire to Be a Writer? by Norm HuffnagleThe craft of expressive story writing has been described by various practitioners as "An Art", "A trainable skill", "A mystical journey", "A singular experience", and a plethora of other descriptions. While it is true that sitting down and writing is a deeply personal event, many authors have tried to enlighten the would-be writer with detailed and extensive direction and almost incomprehensible and mostly contradictory rules of conduct. (10/15)Two Rules to Follow to Write Good Fiction by Jonathan B. Williams. I want to talk only about two of the many elements of good fiction writing that often get overlooked. These are: truth and the threat of death. (01/16)Avoiding Plagiarism: Steps Authors Can Take by Harriet Hodgson.If you're a news junkie, you know topics and ideas can surface at the same time. This can create a problem for authors. While a writing idea is percolating in your mind, another author may have a similar idea. Your books may come out at the same time. Did one of you copy the other? No matter what your writing genre may be, these steps will help you avoid the accusation of plagiarism. The steps seem simple, but when you add them together, they form a protective shield. (02/16)Flash Fiction - What Is It and How Do You Write It? by Helen Khan. Flash fiction is having a comeback. It has been around for centuries but then it was called fables or parables up until the 20th century when it was called the short, short story; now it is called flash fiction. Some have even given it a technical term, "nano fiction". So what exactly is flash fiction? It is a literary style that is noted for its extreme brevity. The fictional piece can be as short as 53 words or as long as 1000, but generally it hovers around 250 to 1000 words. (05/16)The Female Detective - Personality Traits of Female Amateur Sleuths by Rayna Morgan.A cozy mystery is not interesting without a powerful and intellectual amateur female detective. Such fictional detective characters are known as sleuths. The amateur sleuth in a cozy mystery typically has no official association with law enforcement agencies; she may appear at crime scenes, but she's not paid for her services. (12/16)Using All the Senses in Writing by Megan Easley-WalshAs a writing consultant and in my own work, crafting effective writing is a must. In fiction, creating a cast of characters and an engaging plot are the bedrock of a successful story. One of the best ways to do that is to paint the story with vibrant descriptions that will draw the reader in. (01/17)Creative Writing: How To Write Convincing Characters by Samuel Hall In creative writing, the stories we remember best are those with unforgettable characters - Skywalker, Scarlett, Scout. Characterization is inseparable from the story. One way to give our characters form and substance is to begin with people you know. A trio of famous dreamers - Jay Gatsby, Don Quixote and Alice in Wonderland - all began as people their authors knew. (02/17)The Character Arc: Leading Your Protagonist from Denial to Action by Tamar Sloan.Our characters have a problem, a problem that will spark our plot and drive their arc. As a reader, it's the transformation from refusal and denial to acceptance then action that I love experiencing, and judging by the popularity of the book industry (an estimated 113 billion dollars globally!), I'm going to predict so do a few other people. As a writer, it can be one of the toughest parts to write. Capturing that deeply primal, psychological struggle onto the pages of a book is no easy feat. (03/17)Expose Yourself - How To Write With Personality by Margaret E Crum. Everyone likes a good story especially when it comes from an excellent storyteller. You know the type, that person who can engage your attention and spin a yarn so intriguing that they actually draw you in and capture your interest until the end, leaving you longing for more. It is the manner in which the story is told that makes it something worth listening to, or in this case, something worth reading. (04/17)Overcoming Your Fear Of Writing by Sheldon D. Newton. My experience of writing books began with a book I never published out of fear that it would be rejected by readers. And because of that 'fear of failure' even though I had the book ready to go, I never went ahead and got it done. (05/17)The Joy of Writing by Joanna M Leone. I can still remember my teacher's voice as she said, "Class, please take out your writing journals." I jumped with excitement as I reached into my desk for my light blue journal. Since my family knew that I loved to write, they always bought me sparkly pink and silver pencils. It really made writing more fun! However, some of my friends groaned in agony when they realized that math class was over and it was time to write! I always smiled at my friends and I said, "Just think about something you love or something that makes you smile. Writing is easy if you think with your heart." (06/17)Surprising Voice by Christina St Clair. Writing, when I started out years ago, seemed a way I might quench a longing I couldn't even name. I certainly didn't understand there was such a thing as voice which I now realize is an important aspect of becoming a writer. (09/17)Page 3 this way >>>

Here is a further selection of articles in PDF format. Please download as many as you wish.Retirement: Write On! by Bruce HarrisMany older people, and perhaps especially the retired, consider themselves 'out of touch' and find the idea that anyone might be interested in whatever fiction they might attempt as probably a little far-fetched. This assumption can sometimes be in spite of the fact that they have lived long and varied lives and may well have done and seen much more than many younger people have. (10/14)How to Succeed with Travel Writing Competitions! by Dr Steve HansonOur Inaugural Travel Writing Competition last year received about 200 entries for a prize of a £100 Currency Card. Out of all those entries, how did the judging panel, of which I was member, decide on one winner and ten runners-up? Well, if you decide to enter a travel writing competition, the following ten tips should help…(02/15)How Top Selling Authors Have Successfully Sold Their Ebooks by Tanisha WilliamProducing best seller books can be a tough task for any author. Marketing an eBook is what separates the successful authors from those who stayed at the bottom of the sales charts. To generate the most sales, there are specific things authors should do to ensure they are reaching potential consumers. (04/15)Being your own Publisher by Dr. Jacqueline JeynesFed up with hassles and restrictions when dealing with a publisher for your books? Me too, so I decided to do it myself. Five years ago, I would not have considered it - too difficult to reach group buyers, too much marketing effort needed - but now, your side of the bargain seems to be expanding while theirs shrinks and you are expected to do all this anyway. (06/15)Why Writers Should Make Friends with the Taxman by Natalie ButlinYou've always known you want to be a writer, and now you've got it: the multi-million pound idea, film deal in the waiting, bouncers on the doors at W H Smiths. Why waste your breath at work when you're sitting on a golden egg? It's time to tell your boss a few home truths and get on the phone to Selina Walker… Except most writers only just scrape by. (07/15)Writing Short Stories for Magazines by Chris SuttonWriting stories for magazines is great fun. You create the characters, decide what happens to them and how their problems will be resolved. Nothing could be simpler. Except that it's not quite that easy. (08/15)Improving Your Writing Skills - 7 Ways to Benefit From Online Writing Blogs by Joseph Maina KabuiIn a rapidly expanding digital communication space, blogging is indispensable, not only for blog owners but also for their followers. For freelance writers, there are many established and emerging blogs that provide a plethora of tools and practical ideas on how to improve writing skills. But there is a catch! Unless you are selective and wise, you may end more confused than enlightened after keenly following a range of blogs. (09/15)Do You Have a Burning Desire to Be a Writer? by Norm HuffnagleThe craft of expressive story writing has been described by various practitioners as "An Art", "A trainable skill", "A mystical journey", "A singular experience", and a plethora of other descriptions. While it is true that sitting down and writing is a deeply personal event, many authors have tried to enlighten the would-be writer with detailed and extensive direction and almost incomprehensible and mostly contradictory rules of conduct. (10/15)Two Rules to Follow to Write Good Fiction by Jonathan B. Williams. I want to talk only about two of the many elements of good fiction writing that often get overlooked. These are: truth and the threat of death. (01/16)Avoiding Plagiarism: Steps Authors Can Take by Harriet Hodgson.If you're a news junkie, you know topics and ideas can surface at the same time. This can create a problem for authors. While a writing idea is percolating in your mind, another author may have a similar idea. Your books may come out at the same time. Did one of you copy the other? No matter what your writing genre may be, these steps will help you avoid the accusation of plagiarism. The steps seem simple, but when you add them together, they form a protective shield. (02/16)Flash Fiction - What Is It and How Do You Write It?by Helen Khan. Flash fiction is having a comeback. It has been around for centuries but then it was called fables or parables up until the 20th century when it was called the short, short story; now it is called flash fiction. Some have even given it a technical term, "nano fiction". So what exactly is flash fiction? It is a literary style that is noted for its extreme brevity. The fictional piece can be as short as 53 words or as long as 1000, but generally it hovers around 250 to 1000 words. (05/16)The Female Detective - Personality Traits of Female Amateur Sleuths by Rayna Morgan.A cozy mystery is not interesting without a powerful and intellectual amateur female detective. Such fictional detective characters are known as sleuths. The amateur sleuth in a cozy mystery typically has no official association with law enforcement agencies; she may appear at crime scenes, but she's not paid for her services. (12/16)Using All the Senses in Writing by Megan Easley-WalshAs a writing consultant and in my own work, crafting effective writing is a must. In fiction, creating a cast of characters and an engaging plot are the bedrock of a successful story. One of the best ways to do that is to paint the story with vibrant descriptions that will draw the reader in. (01/17)Creative Writing: How To Write Convincing Charactersby Samuel Hall In creative writing, the stories we remember best are those with unforgettable characters - Skywalker, Scarlett, Scout. Characterization is inseparable from the story. One way to give our characters form and substance is to begin with people you know. A trio of famous dreamers - Jay Gatsby, Don Quixote and Alice in Wonderland - all began as people their authors knew. (02/17)The Character Arc: Leading Your Protagonist from Denial to Action by Tamar Sloan.Our characters have a problem, a problem that will spark our plot and drive their arc. As a reader, it's the transformation from refusal and denial to acceptance then action that I love experiencing, and judging by the popularity of the book industry (an estimated 113 billion dollars globally!), I'm going to predict so do a few other people. As a writer, it can be one of the toughest parts to write. Capturing that deeply primal, psychological struggle onto the pages of a book is no easy feat. (03/17)Expose Yourself - How To Write With Personality by Margaret E Crum. Everyone likes a good story especially when it comes from an excellent storyteller. You know the type, that person who can engage your attention and spin a yarn so intriguing that they actually draw you in and capture your interest until the end, leaving you longing for more. It is the manner in which the story is told that makes it something worth listening to, or in this case, something worth reading. (04/17)Overcoming Your Fear Of Writing by Sheldon D. Newton. My experience of writing books began with a book I never published out of fear that it would be rejected by readers. And because of that 'fear of failure' even though I had the book ready to go, I never went ahead and got it done. (05/17)The Joy of Writing by Joanna M Leone. I can still remember my teacher's voice as she said, "Class, please take out your writing journals." I jumped with excitement as I reached into my desk for my light blue journal. Since my family knew that I loved to write, they always bought me sparkly pink and silver pencils. It really made writing more fun! However, some of my friends groaned in agony when they realized that math class was over and it was time to write! I always smiled at my friends and I said, "Just think about something you love or something that makes you smile. Writing is easy if you think with your heart." (06/17)Surprising Voice by Christina St Clair. Writing, when I started out years ago, seemed a way I might quench a longing I couldn't even name. I certainly didn't understand there was such a thing as voice which I now realize is an important aspect of becoming a writer. (09/17)Page 3 this way >>>